Confirmed: Escalators at JzP station to stay free from advertisements

Prague’s Jiřího z Poděbrad (JzP) metro station escalators will remain free of advertisements, according to the Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) and the agency in charge of ads on the capital’s metro stations. 

According to Deputy for Transport Zdeněk Hřib on social media site X, both parties decided to preserve the newly renovated station's “clean and architecturally pleasing” design. The move has been met with widespread support from Prague residents and visitors alike.

The A-line station, which was reopened on Nov. 2 after a 10-month reconstruction, received upgrades such as new escalators, lighting, and stone cladding. "We're also going back to the clean design of the 1980s, which is sure to please," said Hřib earlier.

Initially, the transport company had planned to cover the surfaces with advertisements, as per their contract with an advertising company. However, councilor for Property Adam Zábranský put forth the initiative to keep the station free of ads.

"I understand that advertising brings revenue to the DPP, but that doesn't mean it should be everywhere," Zábranský wrote on the X network. "There are already under and over escalators at JzP, and the escalator tunnel here is really extremely good, and advertising would kill the aesthetic impression."

Members of the public in a previous online survey commented positively on the clean and uncluttered design of the station. One new feature of the reopened JzP station is the display of DPP’s new black-themed metro-network maps that are currently on trial.

However, other parts of JzP station are likely to contain advertising banners, as DPP has leased metro stations’ space to advertising company Railreklam for advertising space. For example, Anděl metro station and Na Knížecí bus station were ad-free in the months after reconstruction work, but advertisements returned thereafter. 

The city enjoys vast sums of money from the advertising deal: "This year, we expect an income of approximately CZK 220 million from the rental of all advertising space on DPP property,” DPP spokesperson Aneta Řehková said earlier this year. However, advertisements at JzP would only earn CZK 116,000 for the DPP. There has not yet been any confirmation on whether advertisements will reappear on other parts of the station.